Paladin Press catalog from 1975 featuring some of the early Paladin classics.

On November 29 at noon EST, Paladin Press took its last order for a book or DVD, and at the end of the year it will close its doors for good after a 47-year run as the publisher of America’s Action Library.

For almost half a century Paladin has achieved a well-deserved and hard-won reputation as a cutting-edge publisher of books that provided information on a wide range of topics that politicians, police agencies, media watchdogs, moral censors, crusading attorneys, and self-proclaimed guardians of the public have worked diligently to suppress. And sometimes they have been successful in this, but Paladin, like Nelson’s flagship, HMS Victory, has endured through the decades. But, alas, all good things must come to an end, and it is time for Paladin to do so.

Paladin Press, originally named Panther Press (changed to avoid being connected with the Black Panther Party) began in the minds of Peder Classen Lund — Green Beret, private investigator, real estate investor, adventurer — and future Soldier of Fortune magazine publisher Lt. Col. Robert K. Brown in 1970. These entrepreneurs, veterans of the Vietnam War, conceived of the idea of reprinting military and CIA manuals that had been declassified by War and Defense Departments, the branches of the U.S. armed forces, and the intelligence agencies. These manuals covered such esoteric subjects as infantry combat tactics, booby traps, demolitions, flamethrowers, sniper training, guerrilla warfare, the M79 grenade launcher, fieldcraft, wilderness survival, physical training, and a host of other topics that found a market in the turbulent and divided America of the early 1970s.

Paladin proved that there was an insatiable demand for forbidden information, the stuff that was simply unavailable before the advent of the Internet, which was still decades away. From a fledgling upstart, Paladin expanded to a suite of offices with a busy shipping department that dispatched books to every corner of the earth to individuals, businesses, and governments.

New authors were discovered who dared to push the envelope. Among them was John Minnery, who wrote the notorious How to Kill, the first of a six-book illustrated series, later compiled into a single volume, detailing the exotic, bizarre, brutal, and clandestine methods for doing away with your fellow man in homicidal fashion. Even today these books are highly prized by thriller writers, true crime aficionados, and readers of offbeat materials. How to Kill was shocking, offensive, and without redeeming merit to self-styled moralists on both sides of the political spectrum, but then no one has ever complained that Paladin Press used any form of intimidation to make them purchase copies of the book.

Another legendary Paladin author was investigative journalist J. David Truby, an authority on firearm sound suppressors and black ops who authored a number of books for Paladin Press on the history, development, and improvised creation of silencers from World War I through Vietnam and the Cold War. Truby established a long and warm relationship with Paladin Press and provided the publisher with some of its early scholarly volumes and bestsellers. His most iconic book, Silencers, Snipers, and Assassins: An Overview of Whispering Death(1972), is a classic pictorial study of silencers in war and espionage and a valuable addition to any library on weaponry, assassination, and espionage.

As the Cold War intensified in the late 1970s and early 1980s, nuclear war seemed not only likely but inevitable in those pre-Gorbachev days. This was the dawn of the survivalist movement of men and women determined to survive no matter what happened on the international scene or to the fragile technological civilization on which the vast majority depended for all their basic needs. The bible for survivalists in the 1980s was Paladin’s Life After Doomsday: A Survivalist Guide to Nuclear War and Other Major Disasters (1981) by Dr. Bruce D. Clayton, the most practical and authoritative guide ever published on how to prevail and keep your family and self alive in the aftermath of a nuclear or biological conflict.

Dr. Clayton’s Life After Doomsday deserves to be on the bookshelf of every survivalist and prepared citizen, for the information it contains is as relevant today, perhaps more so, than it was in 1981, when a nuclear strike could be deterred by the fear of mutually assured destruction. An excellent companion to Life After Doomsdaywas Paladin’s Survival Guns (1977) by the legendary Mel Tappan, a survival book for which it would be impossible for me to recommend too highly.

As rates of violent crime and criminal assault exploded throughout the urban areas of the United States in the 1970s, Paladin Press rose to the forefront of publishers providing average Americans, those not living in privately policed gated communities or protected by armed bodyguards, with the means and information to look after themselves in a street confrontation. Among the first Paladin authors to explore this popular subject was William L. “Wild Bill” Cassidy, who wrote the seminal volume The Complete Book of Knife Fighting (1975) for Paladin Press. The somewhat notorious Cassidy, who has since disappeared, pioneered the personal combat and self-defense genre that would be a Paladin Press staple for decades to come.

By 1980 the American man and woman in the street was besieged with high taxes, a decade-long economic downturn, long gas lines, an intrusive bureaucracy, bad neighbors, barking dogs, unfaithful spouses, rising utility prices, and never-ending hassles at home and in the workplace. It was Paladin Press and professional trickster George Hayduke who came to the rescue with Get Even: The Complete Book of Dirty Tricks (1980). Along with fellow firebrand, M. Nelson Chunder, Hayduke turned revenge into an art form with nasty pranks and nefarious jokes that ranged from the simply annoying to the wrathful ones that would turn the target’s life upside down. While this form of humor was not for everyone, it gave countless victims the satisfaction that, in the spirit of news anchor Howard Beal in the film Network, they could get mad as hell and not have to take it anymore.

It is beyond the scope of this farewell to give credit to the hundreds of authors who made Paladin Press a successful enterprise for so many years. Among the prestigious names are the following:

Colonel Rex Applegate, the author of such classic works as Riot Control, Kill or Get Killed, and The Close Combat Files of Colonel Rex Applegate, among others

Ragnar Benson, outdoorsman/survivalist and prolific author of more than 40 Paladin classics, including Survival Poaching, Mantrapping, and The Survival Retreat

W.E. Fairbairn, the legendary author of Shooting to Live, Get Tough, Defendu, and numerous others reprinted by Paladin Press for a new generation of readers

John L. Plaster, author of Paladin’s all-time best-selling book, The Ultimate Sniper, as well as the companion videos and the History of Sniping and Sharpshooting series, including Plaster’s last book for Paladin, the recently released Sniping in the Trenches

John Kingsley-Heath, African safari guide and author of Hunting the Dangerous Game of Africa

Duncan Long, America’s favorite firearms book writer and the author of more than two dozen Paladin books on a variety of firearms, including AK 47, AR-15 Super Systems, The Mini-14, Ruger Automatic Pistol, and Homemade Ammo.

All these authors were part of the Paladin Action Library that lived up to its name in a world where adventure, self-reliance, toughness, and freedom were never out of fashion.

Paladin could never have thrived for so long without its superb editorial staff of dedicated individuals who worked with the authors, always with great patience and professionalism. This anonymous fraternity of editors, artists, and designers enhanced the work and earned the gratitude of every author. Their contribution can’t be overestimated. The loyal customers of Paladin Press products owe them a final salute of thanks.

Paladin customers over the years discovered the superb customer service and prompt shipping that Paladin provided. It was something they could always count on when dealing with Paladin Press. Here was personal service from people who genuinely cared about the customer and worked to make certain that gift arrived before Christmas or a wholesale order arrived in time to fill a bookseller’s holiday backorders. Paladin’s administrative staff was always there to answer any question, fix any mistake, and carry out those special instructions for a sometimes-demanding public. They were the unsung heroes of Paladin Press.

Last but never least, no farewell to Paladin can fail to mention its guiding light, the man who built it from a small one-man business into the global operation that it became at its height. That man, Peder Lund (1942–2017), passed away while on a trip to Russia and Finland earlier this year. There would be no Paladin without Peder Lund, whose unforgettable character and famous generosity provided the driving spirit of the company in both its best days and darkest ones. His passing will forever be mourned by the numerous employees, friends, and associates whose lives were made immeasurably better, and in some cases saved by the opportunities he offered and the jobs he created. His was a life well lived by any measure.

﻿

The office bulletin board of Paladin publisher Peder Lund, with his Vietnam Green Beret, photos and mementos, and the words “Question All Authority.”

Paladin Press has in recent years faced daunting challenges that all small publishers are facing in today’s America. Changing business models, the rise of the Jeff Bezos’ Amazon empire, the proliferation of information on the Internet, and a far smaller reading public than in the past has reduced the profit margins for Paladin Press to the point where it will not survive the passing of its founder. All good things must pass, and the time for Paladin to do so has come. It only remains to thank all the people who have done business with, written, produced, and worked for Paladin over the last 47 years. May they all find happiness and fulfillment in the future and may Paladin Press and the man behind it never be forgotten.

Ray Lyman worked for Paladin Press for more than 20 years, during which time he authored Paladin’s popular line of military history calendars. Another function he so ably filled was Paladin’s chief historian and fact checker. In the days before Google, Ray was our go-to guy on any historical, political, military, or current events question. Through this column, Ray simply resumed that role for Paladin. We thank Ray for his years of service to Paladin as shipper, historian, and friend.

Stickgrappler's Note: Posted 12/1 as of 11/30. I am guessing the Paladin's site will be shut down at the end of the year and I'm archiving select Paladin Press pages to my blog to preserve an essential part of martial arts from 1970-2017.

WORDCOUNT(This section I will not add towards November's tally as well as the header picture and video I made above... I will only use hand-drawn pictures or animated GIFs I've created towards Nov's NaNoWriMo totals):It looks like I made my goal of 50,000 words via text and pictures towards the National Novel Writing Month/NaNoWriMo. Although I had a secondary goal of blogging everyday which I was not able to accomplish, but with NaNoWriMo, the ultimate goal was to blog regularly.This post: 1.810November running tally: 94,456 wordsWords in excess of NaNoWriMo's 50,000: 44,456 (almost wrote 100,000 words in Nov 2017 between text and GIFs ... almost double the 50k target of NaNoWriMo!)

We thank you for your interest in Paladin Press. There are many good reasons to submit your book or video proposal to Paladin: we are the leading publisher in our field, we produce top-quality books and videos, and we pay royalties in full and on time. To assist you in your project, we ask that you observe the following guidelines when submitting a book or videotape proposal.

To submit a book proposal to Paladin Press, send an outline or chapter description along with one or two sample chapters (or the entire manuscript) to the address below. If applicable, samples of illustrations or photographs are also useful. Do not send a computer disk at this point, and be sure keep a copy of everything you send us. We are not accepting manuscripts as electronic submissions at this time. Please allow 2-6 weeks for a reply. If you would like your sample material returned, a self-addressed stamped envelope with proper postage is required.

Submitting an idea for a video project is not much different from submitting a manuscript for a book. The first requirement is an outline describing as clearly as possible your idea for the project. Since you are proposing the production of a video, try to be as descriptive as possible concerning the things you actually want to appear on the finished tape. Descriptions of settings, locations, and any necessary sets or props are especially helpful.

The second requirement is a brief video sample of what you plan to feature in the finished video. This is analogous to the sample chapters required for a manuscript proposal. The sample should be a short demonstration highlighting the significant aspects of the proposed project and should feature you teaching or explaining as you would during the actual production. It should be submitted on a DVD, DVD-R, VHS or Mini-DV tape and need not be any more than 5-10 minutes in length. Hand-held footage shot by a friend with a camcorder is perfectly acceptable, and no editing or titling is necessary. We are simply interested in how you or the featured subject of the video actually appears on tape.

All materials related to video proposals should be addressed directly to:

“I received my current royalty check and am very pleased with Paladin. You are truly an excellent company and deal well and fairly with your authors.” - William Durbin, author of Koga Ryu Ninjutsu
“In the past, I wrote a few books for other publishers and found these experiences to be unsatisfactory. I prefer doing all of my writing for you.” - Tony Jones, author of several police science books
“Having recently worked for another publishing company, I can now tell you from experience that Paladin treats its authors with respect uncommon in the industry.” - Jerry Beasley, author of The Jeet Kune Do Experience
“Lemme tell you, Paladin is prince among publishers as far as keeping its word, paying, etc. I respect the hell out of you. - Chris Pfouts, author of Lead Poisoning and True Tales of American Violence

There are many good reasons for authors to choose Paladin Press as their publishing house, but one of the top is the fact that Paladin pays royalties in full, on time, every time.

Paladin calculates royalties for two six-month periods: December to June and July to November. Our staff begins preparing statements around June 1 and December 1, and checks and final statements—accounting for all books and videos sold and money due—mail on June 15 and December 15. This has been our policy for 30 years.

Other publishing companies often hold a portion of author royalties in arrears for various reasons. The most typical is a “reserve against returns,” which refers to the practice of withholding royalties in anticipation of receiving books returned for refund from customers or bookstores (royalties are not paid on returned items).

Paladin has never and will never retain a reserve with your royalties. If we sold one copy or 1,000 copies of your book or video, we calculate and pay you the money due on those sales. The number of returned items (typically very low with Paladin) is listed on your statement.

Ask any Paladin author about our royalty policies and payments, and you are likely to receive the same answer: Paladin pays its authors conscientiously, consistently, and completely. And if you have questions, there is no phone tree or bureaucracy to break through: our staff is always available by e-mail or phone and will promptly address any inquiries.

Many potential authors wonder how Paladin decides whether or not to accept a manuscript for publication or video for production. Paladin welcomes book and video ideas from veteran authors and first-timers alike, and our editorial staff gives all of them serious consideration. Although we award contracts to only a small percentage of the hundreds of submissions we receive yearly, you can improve your chances of becoming a Paladin author by reading this inside glimpse of how we critique a submission and decide whether it's worth the risk--and hopefully the reward--to produce, publish, and market it.

The editors at Paladin evaluate each submission by asking a series of questions to determine whether the manuscript or video meets certain criteria. If it meets one or more, we will seriously consider it for our list. Some of the major questions (along with recent examples of how they've been answered successfully) include:

Is the project on an entirely new subject not covered by the current offerings in our catalog? We've put out scores of martial art books and videos on how to bang people up in the ring—whether it's boxing, wrestling, Muay Thai, or today's hugely popular no-holds-barred (NHB) competition—but we had nothing on how to fix them up after the bell has been rung or the matt tapped. That's why we knew Dr. Michael Kelly's Fight Medicine: Diagnosis and Treatment of Combat Sports Injuries for Boxing, Wrestling, and Mixed Martial Arts would be a hit with medical professionals, fighters, trainers, and managers.

Is it a new angle on an old topic? Paladin has released books and videos on self-defense against virtually every type of criminal activity, yet we never carried anything that focused on an all-too-frequent danger ripped from today's headlines: workplace violence. That is why we published Loren Christensen's hard-hitting how-to guide Surviving Workplace Violence , the only non-academic approach to the subject available today.

Is it a fresh look at a particular topic? Bill Valentine's seminal books Gang Intelligence Manual and Gangs and Their Tattoos are still required reading in law-enforcement circles, but we knew Matthew O'Deane's Gang Investigator's Handbook would bring Paladin customers up to date on the very latest developments in the fight against dangerous street, biker, and prison gangs.

Is it a definitive piece of work on a particular topic? Many Paladin titles are considered the definitive works on their subject matters, from Mark Hatmaker's massive DVD/workbook combination The Complete Grappler to Brian Price's monumental instructional tome Techniques of Medieval Armour Reproduction . Or the meticulously researched and lavishly illustrated History of Sniping and Sharpshooting by Maj. John Plaster.

Is it controversial or provocative? One of the most debated incidents in the history of American law enforcement is the deadly gunfight that took place in Miami, Florida, between FBI agents and two violent felons. Forensic Analysis of the April 11, 1996, FBI Firefight is the most detailed scientific and tactical analysis of that day, thoroughly addressing all of the questions and controversies that continue to echo in the decade since the last shot was fired.

Is it historically significant? Paladin is well known as the publisher of some of Jeff Cooper's most famous books, including Principles of Personal Defense and The Art of the Rifle , which is why we jumped at the chance to carry the DVD set Jeff Cooper's Defensive Pistolcraft Tape Series . We knew our customers would be eager to see Colonel Cooper in his prime in 1986, personally giving instruction in the core concepts that form the Modern Technique of the Pistol.

Is it eagerly anticipated? Ever since the publication of Jim Cirillo's Guns, Bullets, and Gunfights and the release of his follow-up training videos, Jim Cirillo: Modern-Day Gunfighter and Secrets of a Master Gunfighter , customers had been clamoring for more details about Jim's years with the New York City Police Department's famous Stakeout Unit. Author Paul Kirchner knew this, which is why he took on the project that has become one of our most recent bestsellers, Jim Cirillo's Tales of the Stakeout Squad .

Will the author's credentials appeal to a significant number of customers? Kelly McCann ("Jim Grover" from his days when he published a popular column under that pseudonym for Guns & Ammo magazine) is well known and highly regarded in the professional security, counterterrorist, combatives, and combat shooting communities. His book, Street Smarts, Firearms, and Personal Security , and numerous videos on firearm and unarmed combatives training are simply among the best products Paladin Press has to offer.

Although this is not an exhaustive list of the types of questions we ask when evaluating manuscripts and video proposals, it gives you an idea of some of the things we must consider before committing to the considerable time and expense of publishing a book or producing a video. But unless you develop an idea, write it down, and submit it to us, you'll never know if your book proposal has "it" – that blend of being topical, well presented, informative, and marketable.

Please note that you may be required to pay local duties and/or taxes on receipt of products you order from us; your customs office can provide you with information about these fees. Also, on items shipped via UPS, courier service, or private air cargo carrier you may be required to pay a brokerage fee to the shipping company upon delivery. If duties, taxes, and/or brokerage fees are applicable and charged back to Paladin rather than being collected from you upon receipt of goods, we will charge the amount to your credit card.

Contact us for other shipping arrangements.Phone: +1.303.443.7250Fax: +1.303.442.8741E-mail: orders at paladin-press dot com

NOTE: Prices subject to change without notice.

All orders ship within 24-48 hours; orders placed Thursday after 9am ET will not ship until Tuesday.Contact us for other shipping arrangements.Phone: +1.303.443.7250Fax: +1.303.442.8741E-mail: orders at paladin-press dot com

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Site Under Construction

Slowly but surely I've implemented changes to the site's look and functionality. I'm sure you have noticed the changes.Ecstatic that I've finally been able to successfully update my site closer more in line with my vision of it.

Not sure if it will be the final look of the site or not, but the Sojourn of Septillion Steps with respect to the site's look has already taken quite a few steps beyond the first!

I will still be endeavoring to put up information I think will benefit your martial arts training as well as your self-defense. I sincerely thank you for visiting/reading!